Land of Marvels (Paperback)

February 2009 Indie Next List

“Barry Unsworth's historical novels consistently manage to evoke comparisons with our own time. In his latest, as WWI becomes inevitable, competing American and European interests in Middle Eastern oil set off a complex chain of events that continues to resonate today.”
— Russ Lawrence, Chapter One Book Store, Hamilton, MT

Description

In this masterful work of historical fiction set during the dying days of the Ottoman Empire, the schemes of Western powers grappling for a foothold in Mesopotamia come vividly to life. English archaeologist John Sommerville begins excavating a historical site, believing he has uncovered a find that will revolutionize his field. But when the Germans threaten his dig with their railroad, he hires an Arab spy, not recognizing the spies dwelling in his own house.